A Month in Thailand

Ratings & Reviews

Ratings & Reviews

The extent to which the male protagonist is on screen (nearly the entire movie) became rather exhausting. Perhaps that's the point. There was a moment on the rooftop when it shifted perspective to a conversation between other characters and it was incredibly refreshing. All that said, this movie was an emotionally resonant, idiosyncratic look at loneliness and togetherness through the lens of a man nearing midlife.

The self-pretension, self-indulgence, or mere selfishness throughout this film reminds me of Henry Jaglom. Having seen so many documentaries showing the bad times in Romania, at least we see a vibrate society, in some ways making up for the tortured story.

What might be a common-or-garden indie movie in other countries is lifted to brilliance by the sort of keen attention to realist detail typical of Romanian cinema. Who else has filmed the all-too-familiar prolonged awkwardness of a lengthy boozy trudge from bar to bar in wintry conditions? Who would so effortlessly make their hero a pathetic, mundane villain. A little gem this film.

Where's the point, here? Where's the story? Or, better, a story worthy of being told? In a circular, boring narrative, I can only see the shallow struggling of a fickle, self-centered young man. The girl who takes him back is even more idiot. The ending was granted from the beginning, that makes the entire movie so obvious. At least I enjoyed a couple of songs.

A month in Thailand is merely an idea for a local of Bucharest who in one New Year's Eve dumps the woman who loves him but who's possessive tendencies has him pining for the women he really loves. Low budget, hand-held cameras, too much karaoke and cheap discos combine to present a slice-of-life story that neatly goes full circle. Perfectly achieves it's intention of representing average life for some average people.

Next to "En la ciudad de Sylvia" "Take This Waltz," this is one of most heartbreaking romance about fleeting love & passing time since 21st century. Stimulated by a everlasting feeling like "I'm sure that I'm happy now, but I can't help but think I might have lived a happier life," a lonely soul wanders in the night of Bucharest. Us living a life is hurting other people & ourself deeply, maybe it continues forever.